“This is going to be one absolute blast of a festival,” said organizer Meredith Gremel of this Saturday’s second annual Heirloom Tomato Festival held at Reds on the River from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Businesses throughout downtown are coordinating special pricing and giveaways to go with the ‘Show us your Tomatoes’ theme.

The Heirloom Tomato festival will feature music, events and food under at tent in Red’s parking lot, a marinara contest open to the public, a Little Miss Heirloom pageant for girls under 12 and a wide variety of tomato/harvest-themed fun.

“There aren’t a lot of towns like Rockford anymore,” said Gremel. She referred to the wide variety of shops, the lovely flowers at Peppler Park where hundreds go during the summer for photos, and all the music and festivals that take place here.

The tomato festival idea came from the abundance of the crop. She said Dave Ingraberg farms and Chef Glenn at Reds were commenting on how wonderful yet abundant the tomato is when grown the way nature intended. She said the two decided to have a festival centered on the tomato.

This year there will be heirloom tomato seeds for sale, MSU extension Master Gardeners offering advise, a Red’s sampler offered with ticket purchases, roasted corn, a beer tent and other traditional, harvest time family event. North Kent Service Center will offer a lemonade stand with proceeds to the facility and any left over tomatoes will be donated.

The Festival Line Up includes …

• 11 a.m. ‐ noon: Dublin Station (www.dublinstation.com/)
• Noon: Crowing Little Miss Heirloom Tomato Princess (girls 12 Under ‐ dress in tomato, heirloom, or harvest attire and win a gift certificate to Aunt Candy’s Toy Company!)
• 12:30 ‐ 2:30 p.m. ‐‐ The Bean Poles (www.myspace.com/bobobluescat)
• 1 p.m.: Marinara Sauce Contest Judging begins (contestants must drop off their sauce in sealed containers clearly labeled with name, address, phone, email, and recipe at 10 am to Reds kitchen. Prepare enough to serve 10 judges). Top three winners awarded Reds gift certificates.
• Heirloom Essay Contest winner announced — see www.reds‐live.com for details.
• 3 ‐ 4 p.m.: The Moonrays
• 10 a.m.—4 pm: Kids games and activities, Old Fashioned Lemonade Stand, Beer Tent, free samples, tomatoes and seeds for sale, Reds best heirloom dishes and freshly pulled mozzarella, roasted corn, grilled brats, cool t‐shirts for sale, and much more!

For more information, check out www.reds‐live.com, Reds Facebook Event page, or call Reds at 616.863.8181.

Gremel said the weather is supposed to be wonderful and there are even more things for people of all ages to experience. She urged those who visit to take the time to wander downtown shops and see what specials the merchants offer.

With all the family favorites, Miss Tomato Head decorating, facepainting, sack races and more along with the old-fashioned fun of a free outdoor event, this festival is sure to please.

Kids are encouraged to decorate their bikes in red, white and blue. Parents are most welcome to walk along and cheer on the participants. Each child will be given a special gift for participating, and there will a prize for the best dressed bicycle.

Sweet Tooth will have a Bubble Gum Contest after the parade in front of their store. Parade organizers also will have a drop box for retired U.S. flags.

The Heart of Rockford Business Association is the parade sponsor.

On Wednesday, May 19, the students released 11 butterflies representing the 11 children released from hunger.

Kids Food Basket was founded by a teacher in Grand Rapids who saw kindergarten students picking through a dumpster after school. She asked them what they were doing and they said there was no food at their home. Third grade teacher Becky Werden said, “The children learned that kids can be hungry right in our own neighborhoods and community. We are always more blessed by doing projects like this.”

“We’re having a lot of fun with it. My wife, Dixie, came up with the idea and, with the help of the whole staff, we’re doing something positive to help fight breast cancer,” said Brieden. “We are asking all of our patients to wear pink ties on their braces. For each patient that agrees, Brieden Orthdontics is making a donation to Relay for Life. It’s more of a challenge for the men and boys, but they seem to be glad to help us in this worthy cause and search for a cure.”

The rubber ducky race is always a popular activity at Waterfest.

Now in its seventeenth year, the Bear Creek Waterfest is a place where everyone can learn about watersheds, why they are important, and much more. Families will especially find the festival a great place to visit because of the free children’s activities. Approximately ten area organizations will set up activity tables. The musical group Hawks & Owls will be back this year to entertain with old time acoustic music.

Children will begin their visit with a Bear Creek Passport. As children visit each table, they will do an activity, have their passport stamped and will get a prize.

Some highlights:

Creeky Critters: creek creature identification, Microscope Magic: look at a drop of water under a microscope and see organisms the human eye cannot detect alone. Bee Keeper: see how bees make honey. Attract Birds To Your Backyard: make a bird feeder or plant a seed for a flower. Container Gardening: New this year! Learn how to garden in containers. Seminars at 9 and 11 a.m. Rain Gardens: learn how special gardens collect rain water and filter it for the earth. Plant a Native Flower Seed: learn why native plants are an important part of Michigan’s ecosystem. Rain Stick: learn how different cultures use rain sticks and make your own. Find Where You Live in the Watershed: pinpoint where you live on the watershed map. Clean Air Action Display: what makes a Clean Air Action Day? The Grand Valley Metro Council will show you. Scavenger Hunt/Self-Guided Tour: collect nature objects and tour Bear Creek. Rubber Ducky Races: on your mark, get set, go! A popular Waterfest favorite.

The Cannonsburg Christmas Lights Committee will offer a pancake breakfast. Cost is $5 adults, $3 kids 12 and under. The Cannon Historical Society will feature a bake sale in the cabin. The Bear Creek Waterfest is sponsored by Cannon Township.

Emma Lange, Age 4

The Rockford Squire received numerous colored bunnies. Some even had cute poems to go along with their entries. It was a hard decision, but after many oohs and aahs at all the great entries, the following winners were selected.

The winners are Emma Lange, 4, Delcie Mortimore, 5, Samuel Couturier, 8, and Kelly, 10.

Delcie Mortimore, Age 5

Samuel Couturier, Age 8

Kelly, Age 10

Samuel Couturier proudly shows off his coloring talents.

Winners—you can pick up your prizes at The Rockford Squire office.